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| Greg Schultz posted Concrete viaduct in Sidney, OH. Not sure if it was NYC or PRR. From a slide I took in 1998. The viaduct is still active. |
I thought all of the big concrete arch viaducts were in east coast states. I did not realize that there was one this close to the Chicago area. This bridge ups my priority to make a trip to Columbus, OH, although Sidney would be a bit of a detour.
My 1928 RR Atlas shows the north/south route through Sidney was B&O and the east/west route was Big Four (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis). Big Four was controlled and then bought by the New York Central. When Conrail was split between NS and CSX, CSX got this route so it now has a monopoly on traffic in Sidney, OH since it always owned the B&O route.
Both railroads had viaducts, but this bridge is on the east/west route. Looking at satellite images, the southern viaduct has only one arch that does not have trees in it. The eastern viaduct has multiple clear arches and their is little truss bridge close by that is in the lower-left corner of this photo.
Update:
My 1928 RR Atlas shows the north/south route through Sidney was B&O and the east/west route was Big Four (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis). Big Four was controlled and then bought by the New York Central. When Conrail was split between NS and CSX, CSX got this route so it now has a monopoly on traffic in Sidney, OH since it always owned the B&O route.
Both railroads had viaducts, but this bridge is on the east/west route. Looking at satellite images, the southern viaduct has only one arch that does not have trees in it. The eastern viaduct has multiple clear arches and their is little truss bridge close by that is in the lower-left corner of this photo.
Update:
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| Marty Bernard posted Philip Kulina: Is that a vehicle bridge below it ? Dennis DeBruler: Philip Kulina It was until 1997. I'm seeing conflicting information as to whether or not it is now open for pedestrians. https://bridgehunter.com/oh/shelby/sidney/ https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=ohio/gearhart/ G.A. Lauterbur: Dennis DeBruler It is not formally open to any traffic. Access is blocked off and it's heavily overgrown at both ends. Pedestrian access would be at one's own risk and might be considered trespassing. Marty Bernard shared Joe Fuller: Is this bridge still being used and when was it built? Dennis DeBruler: Joe Fuller Yes, by CSX. 1924 https://bridgehunter.com/oh/shelby/big-four/ https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=ohio/bigfour/ |
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| MP Rail Photography posted After turning off the Toledo Subdivision, E700 is seen heading eastbound on the CSX Indy Line as it crosses over the Big Four Bridge in Sidney. September 2, 2023 Sidney, Ohio Power: CSX 3207 - ES44AH CSX 540 - ES44AH MP Rail Photography shared |
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| MP Rail Photography posted Like being in a time machine, CSX 1976, the Conrail Heritage Unit, leads M363 across the Big Four Bridge in Sidney, Ohio on the CSX Indy Line. Septemer 2, 2023 Sidney, Ohio Power: CSX 1976 - ES44AC (Conrail Heritage Unit) CSX 489 - AC44CW Ambrotype Visuals: Oh my! And with those parts cars right up front. MP Rail Photography: Ambrotype Visuals, yes, big fan of the high cubes. Roger Riblett shared |
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| David Mays II posted I have no information about this picture, except I know it was taken in Sidney, Ohio. If anyone else would like to try and fill in some blanks, feel free. [Some comments agree that it is an eastbound and we are standing on the north side of the bridge.] |
Historic Bridges mentioned the piers of a Big Four bridge that got destroyed by a flood in 1913. A couple of hours after reading that I came across this posting.
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| Mark Slater posted Bridge supports from the former CCC&StL (Big Four) over the Miami River in Sidney Ohio. Line was moved south of town in 1920s. |
Five of the six photos posted by Bill Edrington with the comment:
The detail photos are interesting because they show that spalling is becoming an issue.
The massive poured-concrete viaduct over the Great Miami River at Sidney was built by the Big Four in 1923. It replaced a low-level, flood-prone crossing of the river and eliminated the severe grades associated with it. Part of the old main line still exists as an industrial spur. The relocated "Bee Line" main line is still a primary CSX line today.Bill posted again.
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| David Hicks posted Sidney OH. I think I might have shred this before. Another Big 4 structure I think. Bill Edrington Yes, it was built by the Big Four as part of a line relocation project in the 1920s. (I’m going to put in a pitch here for the “Fans of the New York Central’s Big Four Lines” Facebook group, in case you might be interested.) Michael Moore Yes, Big 4. Now CSX. Wayne York Built 1922 I think. I just found two pictures of construction which I will post soon. |
The detail photos are interesting because they show that spalling is becoming an issue.
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| Tanner Wical commented on Bill's second posting There is also this one just outside of Sidney. |
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| Fourth photo posted by David Hicks Viaduct is in Sidney and quite the structure. J B Lawson Sr. try going close too that bridge a few days after 9/01/11 Army guys on both sides of the Viaduct, going over the bridge at 60 mph. told my Big E, if the bridge goes Bye, Bye. I'd meet him at the old passenger station on the Indy Line!!! |
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| David Honan |
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| MP Rail Photography posted CSX I008 crosses the Big 4 Bridge in Sidney, Ohio with CSX 527 (NCSTL Sticker Unit) leading and a YN2 AC44CW trailing. November 11, 2021 Power: CSX 527 - AC44CW CSX 443 - AC44CW |
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| MP Rail Photography posted CSX Q205 creeps across the Big 4 Bridge in Sidney, Ohio as it waits for a signal to head South on CSX Toledo Subdivision. October 11, 2021 Power: CSX 4047 - SD40-3 CSX 8034 - ES44AH |
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| MP Rail Photography posted I132 with a UP SD70M and KCS GEVO for power, crosses over the former Big 4 Bridge along the Indie Line in Sidney, Ohio. February 18, 2022 Power: UP 4925 - SD70M KCS 4684 - ES44AC |
This must be on the other side of the bridge.
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| MP Rail Photography posted Q209 crosses the CSX bridge over the Great Miami River in Sidney, Ohio. This bridge is on the CSX Toledo Subdivision and is just south of the more commonly known Big 4 railroad bridge on the CSX Indie Line. February 18, 2022 Power: CSX 7235 - CM44AC CSX 3119 - ES44AH MP Rail Photography: Bill Wolcott, the Big Four Bridge is on the Indie Line, which is to the north of this Bridge. This bridge is on the Toledo Sub. On the Map, the Big Four Bridge is Yellow and the bridge in the photo is the blue. The abutments in the photo are from the original bridge that was built over the Miami River. MP Rail Photography shared |
You can read more on the history of the railroad bridges in Shelby County with my forthcoming book. There were 23 new bridges total, plus 7 miles of totally new right-of-way on the Big Four. No bridges went down in the 1913 flood. The book is; "THE GREAT MIAMI RIVER VALLEY RAILROAD REALIGNMENT PROJECTS." It covers the CH&D (1910-1911) and the Big Four (1922-1924) in Shelby and Logan Counties.
ReplyDeleteI hope your new book covers the Big 4 bridge in DeGraff that goes over Stony Creek.
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